Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Chairperson of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, NiDCOM, has raised concerns over the increasing rate of visa rejections experienced by Nigerians, particularly at Europe and North America embassies.
She described the trend as troubling, especially as the visa fees involved are non-refundable—even when applications are denied.
Dabiri-Erewa emphasized that the issue has become a source of financial and emotional distress for many Nigerians, adding that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is engaging with embassies to push for transparency, fairness, and potential policy changes that include the refund of rejected applicants’ fees.
“We have a lot of Nigerians who complain about it. It’s nonrefundable. It does feel a little off,” she said. “You get rejected and then you lose your money. Even if you’re going to be rejected, at least refund the money.”
Visa application fees for countries like the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, and Schengen member states often exceed $100.
For many applicants, the total cost—including biometrics, courier charges, and logistics—can be significantly higher. The situation is especially frustrating when no clear reason is given for the denial.
Over the years, Nigerian visa applicants have repeatedly complained about unclear rejection criteria and seemingly arbitrary decisions by embassies.
Many applicants claim to have submitted all required documentation and met financial thresholds, only to receive blanket denials with generic explanations.
The most affected groups include students, professionals attending international conferences, medical patients, and families seeking to visit loved ones abroad.
Some have described the process as a “visa lottery,” where even legitimate applications are turned down without merit.
Online, Nigerians frequently share stories of disappointment, financial losses, and perceived discrimination, fueling growing distrust in the visa issuance process.
Some diaspora groups and civil society organizations have called for Nigeria to introduce reciprocal scrutiny for embassies operating within its borders.
The United States recently introduced a new policy allowing applicants to reapply every three months. While this offers more frequent opportunities, Dabiri-Erewa warned it could also become a financial trap for Nigerians, as each attempt still requires full payment without a guarantee of approval.
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“With this three-month thing that the US is coming up with, there’s going to be more applications,” she noted. “Again, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will deal with that. I think they are already engaging with the officials of the US Embassy.”
Attention has also turned to the United Kingdom, where updated immigration policies are making visa access more difficult. These changes include tighter rules on dependents and longer visa tenures that come with higher costs.
Asked about the fairness of the new UK policies, Dabiri-Erewa replied, “That is something the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will look into and engage with the British authorities. I’m sure the Minister would have called the British Ambassador to Nigeria and discussed it, to know why they’re doing that.”
Dabiri-Erewa echoed growing public sentiment that the Nigerian government must hold foreign missions accountable and demand reforms.
She also encouraged the Foreign Ministry to continue its diplomatic efforts while advocating for the protection of Nigerian citizens seeking legitimate travel opportunities abroad.
Citizens are increasingly calling on the government to negotiate refund policies or at least demand clear reasons for visa denials.
Some lawmakers and policy experts have proposed a formal review of bilateral visa agreements, especially where rejection rates are disproportionately high.
“If embassies cannot be fair in approving visas, the least they can do is return the money,” said a travel consultant in Lagos. “People are being punished for no wrongdoing.”
In the meantime, Dabiri-Erewa advised Nigerians traveling abroad to verify the credibility of their employers or educational institutions and to ensure proper documentation before applying for visas.
She also urged Nigerians to register with the nearest Nigerian embassy once abroad to enable better consular support.
As the debate continues, Dabiri-Erewa’s intervention adds an authoritative voice to the growing demand for fairness and accountability in the global visa regime—one that many Nigerians say currently leaves them both rejected and out of pocket.
Crediblenewsng.com
